The FIA has confirmed details of the new elimination-style qualifying format.
However, the governing body has stressed that it is being “evaluated for introduction, potentially as soon as the beginning of the 2016 season.”
The rules were discussed on Tuesday by team bosses without any input from engineers or team managers, and there is likely to be some refinement. Some sources have suggested that there was a plan to have a single session – but it was pointed out that TV broadcasters factor ad breaks into the gaps between Q1 and Q2
The FIA describes the format as follows:
Q1:
- 16 minutes
- After 7 minutes, slowest driver eliminated
- Slowest driver eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the checkered flag
- 7 drivers eliminated, 15 progress to Q2
Q2:
- 15 minutes
- After 6 minutes, slowest driver eliminated
- Slowest driver eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the checkered flag
- 7 drivers eliminated, 8 progress to Q3
Q3:
- 14 minutes
- After 5 minutes, slowest driver eliminated
- Slowest driver eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the checkered flag
- 2 drivers left in final 1 minute 30 seconds
The final elimination in each session occurs at the checkered flag – not when time is up.
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